Drones, drones everywhere?

I agree with your description of Amazon CEO Jeff Bazos’ idea of using drones for package deliveries as “bold,” but this a great example of something that should not be done just because it can be done.

Please deliver us from these money-making, people-be-damned schemes.
Americans don’t want a bunch of pilotless, brainless, thoughtless — and thus manipulatable — drones, flying around in every bit of their space and able to view them at any time, nor the ability to receive a package at any whim within a half-hour of its ordering (except in cases of dire emergency), nor millions more people put out of work.

Since this great, exciting, new, state-of-the-art technology would be in the hands, ultimately, of our largest, richest, most powerful corporations (like BP), what could possibly go wrong?

R. Kiefer, Arvada

This letter was published in the Dec. 17 edition.

For information on how to send a letter to the editor, click here. Follow eLetters on Twitter to receive updates about new letters to the editor when they’re posted.

They don’t? Perhaps R. Kiefer would be so kind as to cite the vote they all took, expressing that view.

And “millions more people put out of work”?

The U.S. Postal Service (671,000), Federal Express (300,000), UPS (425,300) and DHL (275,000) combined employ less than 2 million people worldwide. Many of those aren’t delivery drivers. They are receptionists, order takers, package sorters, managers, marketing people, customer service reps, janitors, IT people, bookkeepers, accountants, lawyers, executives, etc., who likely won’t be affected by Amazon’s drones, just one of many customers that provides only a portion of the couriers’ overall business.

Far fewer than “millions” — if any — would lose their jobs if this rather far-fetched idea were to come to fruition.

Papa Smurf

If you believe the testimony coming out of the NTSB hearings regarding the Asiana Airlines 777 crash landing at SFO last summer, it would appear that we already have “…a bunch of pilotless, brainless, thoughtless…” aircraft flying around out there.

Suvkix

Thanks. Needed a chuckle today.

ThePyro

I dunno, Mr/Ms Keifer – I’m not a big fan of the idea, but we’re talking about a society that’s been raised on the idea that flying cars, jet packs and other personal-flight paraphernalia are just around the corner. Also a society that’s been baptised in commercialism and the gotta-have-it-right-now mentality that goes with it. Taking those things together, I’d be hard pressed to say Americans DIDN’T want drones delivering their stuff.

Papa Smurf

I grew up with the promises of flying cars & jet packs. Walt Disney promised! And quite frankly, I’m a little miffed that they aren’t in common use by now. How long do we gotta wait???!!!

ThePyro

You don’t have to wait!! Run the following names through the ol’ Googlepotamus:
AeroMobil
Terrafugia Transition

Drones have the capability of carrying a variety of weapons, including 12-
guage shot guns, tear gas, rubber bullet guns, bombs and missiles,

Unmanned aerial vehicles have the capability to watch individuals, groups and populations on a 24-hour basis, following and recording their movements for days and weeks, and for the largest drones, even years,

Unmanned aerial vehicles have the capability to continuously monitor cell phone and text messaging of individuals, groups and populations. Anyone–your neighbor, a teen–can monitor you with this technology.

Drones have been developed that use computerized facial images to target individuals and, once launched, operate, autonomously, without further human involvement, to locate and kill those individuals.

They are terminators. Obama has said he will use drones to target Americans on American soil without just cause, a trial, or even a charge.

Small drones, 25 pounds or under, are now permitted to fly in general airspace below 400 feet for the use of police and first responders, with FAA permission. Hobbyists, teenagers, next door neighbors can buy small drones at Radio Shack and many places online.

An angry teenager can target schoolmates, fly the drone onto a playground and fire away, or drop a pipe bomb. The drone can simply fly off and there will be no evidence left behind for finding the perpetrator.

An angry or aggrieved person can use a drone to stalk someone.

A drone can drop a bomb at any large gathering: a football game, a marathon. There would be no evidence left behind for finding the perpetrators.

A drone can follow a child and force that child into a car or house.

Drones are easy to hack into and can be commandeered by terrorists, rogue countries, or any adversary.The armed, plane-sized drones can be hacked into, flown over a city, and used to bomb that city. If projections are accurate, by 2020 we could literally have 30,000 drones and their bombs flying overhead continuously. Even one drone with one bomb over America is too many.

Drones are not just toys. They are war weapons being brought to the skies of America. We must say no, now!

Suvkix

If it can deliver a book it can deliver a bomb. Hmmm. Now what? Time for one of those drone hunting licenses.

johnrpack

When this service becomes available, I plan to order drone delivery to an address in that town in Colorado where it’s legal to shoot down drones. I suspect most of Amazon’s competitors will do likewise.

Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 150 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address, day and evening phone numbers, and may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

To reach the Denver Post editorial page by phone: 303-954-1331

Recent Comments

peterpi: I think I have this correct: Voters in Jefferson County elected school board members that the superintendent...

peterpi: Sounds good to me. For future employees. I believe police and fire dept. brass have also been known to get...